Well-sinking apparatus.



PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

M. T. GHAPMAN, v WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1899.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

I laifi; m1 4 W, WMA AA...

No. 775,417. PATE'N'I'ED NOV. 22 1904. M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

AI PLIGATIOH FILED SEPT. 25. 1899.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WWW ma o gvwamom m A mm, 44

9151 Gum nu No. 775, 11 a.

' UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WELL-SINKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.-775,417, dated November22, 1904.

I Applicati n filed September 25, 1899- Serial No. 781,507. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATTHEW T. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Sinking Apparatus,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to apparatus for sinking wells, and has for itsobject to provide various improvements by which the sinking of wells maybe more expeditiously and satisfactorily accomplished than heretofore.

One of the principal features of my invention consists in providingmeans for rotating the drill by which the well is bored which providesfor rotating the drill not only when it is boring in the ordinary way,but when it is jumped or raised and dropped in order to cause the drillto penetrate the rock, so that it will bore more rapidly.

My invention also comprises certain other improvements, which will behereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing theclamp for gripping the well-casing. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame, showingalso the turn-table, some parts being broken away. Fig. 3is a horizontal section showing one of the clamp members andillustrating a modified form of apparatus for rotating the well-casing.Fig. 4 is a plan view of the turn-table, the well-casing being insection. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4,illustrating the pawls for preventing downward movement of thewell-casing. Fig. 6 is aside elevation showing the antifriction-rollersof the clamps in section. Fig. 7 is a plan View of one of the pawls forpreventing downward movement of the well-casing, showing a modification.Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig.

7, and Fig. 9 is a view of the wedge-blockshown in Fig. 8.

The apparatus illustrated and described in my present application is animprovement upon and in some respects embodies some of the parts ofvarious prior patents issued to me, as follows: No. 382,689, dated May15, 1888; No. 409,272, dated August 20, 1899;

Nos. 443,069, 443,070, 443,071, and 443,072, dated December .16, 1890,and No. 541,835, dated July 2, 1895, to which reference is made for afull description of the fundamental operation of well-sinking. Forpresent purposes it is sufficient to say that a tube which forms thewell-casing is suspended by suitable apparatus from aderrick placed overthe site of the proposed well, said casing having at its lower end adrill adapted to bore through into the earth. Suitable guiding devicesare provided by which the casing is guided and also apparatus forrotating the casing and drill to cause the drill to bore into the earth.Such rotating devices are so arranged as to permit vertical movement ofthe casing, so that as the drill penetrates the earth it may descend andthe weight of the casing may rest upon the drill to force it down. Myimproved construction, in addition to this operation, provides forjumping of the drill, which consists in raising the casing and thenpermitting it to drop, thereby causing the drill-point to enter therock, forming acut or notch, so-that when it is further rotated itengages the rock and drills more rapidly. This is especially necessarywhere the rock is so hard that the weight of the drill and casing is notsufficient to cause the drill to cut deeply into the rock. In such casesthe rotation of the drill operates simply to cut a smooth surface onwhich the drill rests, and drilling by the rotation of the drill alonewould therefore be very slow work.

No prior construction of which I am aware has provided for longitudinalmovement of the well-tube or drill-rod independently of or through theclamping mechanism and also for jumping thereof, which constitutes animportant feature of my present invention. My invention also providesfor rotating the welltube or drill-rod in addition to the othermovements specified. After the well has been bored to a depth almostequal to that of the casing a second length of pipe is screwed upon theupper end of the first, additional sections being added from time totime as the casing descends into the earth.

Referring now to the drawings, 20 indicates the well-casing orboring-tube.

' The casing 20 is rotated and otherwise operated for boring a wellbymeans of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

otherwise suitably arranged. The turn-table 62 is provided with asuitable central passage for the casing 20, and around said passage arearranged a number of frames 68, in which are placed stops or blocks69,preferably of wood. Said blocks, however, maybe of other elasticmaterial. Said blocks are best shown in Fig. 4. a The blocks 69 serve asstops to intercept and sustain the sho ck of a clampframe 70 when saidframe descends violently, as in jumping the drill. 71 72 indicateupright rods secured upon the turn-table 62 at opposite sides thereofand rising vertically therefrom. Said rods clamp-frame 70. illustratedin Fig. Fig. 8. i

The clamp-frame 70 is arranged in a horizontal position above theturn-table 62 and is guided by the rods 71 72, as already de-' They maybe tubular, as 2, or solid, as illustrated in scribed. For the purposeof carrying said clamp-frame upon said rods and facilitating itsvertical movement it, is site sides with grooved rollers 73, mounted onjournals 74, which journals are carried by lugs 75, as shownin' Fig.1.The rollers 73 are held closely in contact with the bars 71 '72 bylocking-bars 76, the inner ends of which are pivoted to the clamp-frame.As illustrated in Fig. l, the outerends of the bars 76 are detachablysecured by links 78 to the ends of the journals 74 and extend across thebars 71 72, binding said bars against the rollers 73. The clamps areadjusted and held in po-' sition by bolts 77, which areadjustable bymeans of nuts 79, as shown in Fig. 1, said bolts being secured in theclamp-frame 70. By this construction the clamp-frame may move verticallyupon the guide-bars 71 72 and at the same time be rotated by therotation of the turn-table. The clamping-frame 70 carries two or moresets of clamping-disks 80, arranged at different points, around thewell-casing and adapted to grip it forthe purpose of rotating it.Various forms of clamping-disks are employed'for such purposes. I

prefer, however, the sharp-edgeddisks, py-

ramidally arranged, as illustrated in the drawings. 81 indicatesantifriction rollers arranged adjacent to the clamping-disks and adaptedto bear against the surface of the casing. As illustrated in Fig. 6, twoof such antifrietion-rollers 81 are provided adjacent to each pair ofclamping-disks, one being arranged above the other, as "shown.construction the clamp-frame. is held in position on the casing andprevented from rockform guides for they provided at oppov By this.

suspended from the derrick the clampingframe is raised with it, therotation of the casing being continued by means of the engagement of theclamping-frame with the up right bars 7.1 72. The same is true when thecasing and clamping-frame descend, so that whether the casing is beingjumped or not it continues its rotation. The jar caused by the rapiddescent of the clamping-frame is received and lessened materially by thestops or blocks 69. Instead of rotating the casing by means of thepinion it may be rotated by a sweep or lever 82, as shown in Fig. 3.

83 indicates a series ofpawls, one or more of which may be used,preferably four. Asillustrated in Fig. 4, saidpawls are carried by theturn-tableand are placed equally distant apart around the centralopening thereof. Saidpawls are mounted on pivots 84 and are adapted tobe rocked thereon. Wheu'free; said pawls are adapted to engage thesurface of; thecasing, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby preventing it fromdescending. The object of this'arrangement isto prevent the accidentaldropping of the casing into the well when it is being withdrawn, whichsometimes occurs through the breakage of some of the apparatus, and alsoto sustain the weight of the casing'or boringpipe when sections arebeing attached to orremoved from the upper end thereof, When a pipe isbeing lowered into the well, a-length is lowered until the upper endthereof is at a convenient height for connecting the next lengththereto. The pawls 83 or equivalent pipe-holders are then brought intoengagement with the pipe, supporting its weight and preventing it fromrotating while the upper length is being secured -thereto, or, ifpreferred, the upper length may be held by the pawls and the lowerlength rotated in a backward direction to screw the two lengthstogether. When the two lengths have been joined, the pawls are thrownout of operative position and the pipe lowered into position to receiveanother length, as before. The pipe-holders are used in a similar mannerto support the pipe when it is withdrawn from the well. When. boring isin progress, the

pawls 83 are thrown out of operative position, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 5, byturning them upon. their pivots and locking them bymeans of pins 85, which pass through suitable openings in lugs 86, asshown in Fig. 5.

The lugs 86 also carry the pivotpins 84.

In Fig. 4 the pawls are shown as having concave bearing-faces adapted toengage the surface of the casing, the acting faces of some 1 of saidpawls being plain and those of others roughened. Either style may beused, or instead of using'pawls wedge-blocks 87 may be employed, saidblocks being carried by rockinglevers 88 and being moved inward intooperative engagement with the casing by stationary blocks 89, as shownin Fig. 8.

In operation it is desirable for rapid work to employ two sets ofclamps, so that one set of clamps can be attached tothe length of pipeto be added. and when the two lengths are connected the lower clamp canbe removed, while the operation is continued with the clamp on the newsection. Thus the operation of boring may be made practicallycontinuous, as by my improvements the pipe can be turned for boringpurposes and sunk without removing the clamp, and it may also be jumpedwhen necessary without displacing the clamp, the clamp being carried upwith the pipe in jumping and falling with it until intercepted by thestops 69, when movement of the clamping -frame is arrested; but the pipemay continue to descend until stopped by the resistance encountered bythe drillpoint. Besides, when the pipe is jumped it ids alllso rotated,increasing the efficiency of the I have described my improvements indetail; but it will be understood that various modifications may bemade, as my invention is not restricted to the specific constructiondescribed, except in so far as it is particularly claimed.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. Inawell-sinkingapparatus, the combination of vertically-adjustablemeans for gripping a boring-pi pe for rotating it, said boringpipe beingmovable endwise independently of said gripping means, substantially asdescribed.

2. Ina well-sinking apparatus, the combination of vertically-adjustablemeans for gripping a boring-pipe for rotating it, said boringpipe beingmovable endwise independently of said gripping means, and means forrotating said gripping means when adjusted vertically, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a boring-pipe,aclamping-frame adapted to clamp said pipe for rotating it, saidboring-pipe being movable endwise independently of said clamping-frame,said clampingframe being adapted to move vertically with saidboring-pipe when said pipe is jumped, substantially as described.

4. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a boring-pipe, aclamping-frame adapted to clamp said pipe for rotating it, saidboring-pipe being movable endwise independently of said clamping-frame,said clampingframe being adapted to move vertically with saidboring-pipe when said pipe is jumped, and means for rotating saidclamping-frame when adjusted vertically, substantially as described.

5. In awell-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table, clampingmechanism supported by and movable toward and from said turn-table,means carried by said turn-table for rotating said clamping mechanism,said clamping mechanism being adapted to clamp a round article forrotating it, the article gripped being movable endwise independently ofsaid clamping mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table,clamping mechanism supported by and movable toward and from saidturn-table, and means carried by said turntable for rotating saidclamping mechanism when in its different positions of adjustment, saidclamping mechanism being adapted to. clamp a round article for rotatingit, the article gripped being movable endwise independently of saidclamping mechanism, substantially as described.

7 In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of aturn-table,vertically-movable clamping mechanism supported thereby, said clampingmechanism being adapted to clamp a boring-tool, said boring-tool beingmovable endwise independently of said clamping mechanism, stops carriedby said turn-table and adapted to intercept said clamping mechanism whenthe boring-tool is jumped, and means carried by the turn-table forrotating said clamping mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of aturn-table,vertically-movable clamping mechanism supported thereby, said clampingmechanism being adapted to clamp a boring-tool, said boring-toolbeing'movable endwise independently of said clamping mechanism, stopscarried by said turn-table and adapted to intercept said clampingmechanism when the boring-tool is jumped, and means carried by theturn-table for rotating said clamping mechanism when in its differentpositions of adjustment, substantially as described.

9. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination with a turn-table, of avertically-adjustable clamp for turning a round article, said clamphaving gripping-jaws revoluble to allow the article gripped to have anindependent endwise movement in the clamp when being rotated, therebyallowing the drill to follow down. as the hole is bored, said clampbeing arranged to maintain its relative position on the article grippedas it is being jumped in turning the drill, substantially as described.

10. In a well-sinking apparatus,a verticallyadjustable clamp havingrevoluble grippingjaws that grip and turn a round article, such as adrill, and permit independent longitudinal movement thereof, incombination with turning mechanism, consisting of a turn-table,

means for rotating said turn-table, and devices connecting said clampwith said turntable, meanwhile permitting independentvertical movementof said clamp, substantially as described.

turn-table for-rotating said clamp when in its different positions ofadjustment, said clamp having revoluble gripping-jaws to permit of anendwise movement of the article gripped while itis held and turned,thereby enabling the drill to descend as the hole is deepened by boringor drilling, substantially as described.

12. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a drill-rod, with anadjustable clamp having gripping-jaws which grip the pipe sufficientlytightly to hold the clamp on the pipe and cause it to be lifted withsaid pipe when the drill is jumped and allow the drill-rod to moveendwise in the clamp when said clamp reaches the limit of its downwardmovement, and means limiting the downward movement of said clamp,substantially as described.

13. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a boring-tool havinga circular rod or tube, a vertically-movable clamp adapted to grip saidrod for rotating said tool, said rod being movable longitudinallyindependently of said clamp, and means for rotating said clamp about theaxis of said rod while said rod and clamp are moving vertically,substantially as described.

let. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combi nation of a turn-table, arod or tube extending therethrough, a clamp adapted to grip said rod forrotating it, meanwhile permitting longitudinal movement thereof throughsaid clamp, said clamp being movable vertically toward and from saidturn-table, and means connecting said clamp with said turn-table when inits various positions of adjustment, substantially as described.

15. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table, a tubeextending therethrough, a clamp having rotary gripping devices adaptedto grip said tube for rotating it, whereby longitudinal movement of saidtube through the clamp is permitted, said clamp being movable verticallytoward and from said turn-table with said tube, and means for rotatingsaid clamp with said turn-table, substantially as described.

16. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table, a tubeextending therethrough, a clamp having rotary gripping devices adaptedto grip said tube for rotating it, whereby longitudinal movement of saidtube through the clamp is permitted, said clamp being movable verticallytoward and from said turn-table with said tube, means for rotating saidclamp with said turn-table, and means for intercepting said clamp whenthe tube descends, substantially as described.

17. In a wellsinking apparat'us,a removable vertically-adjustable clamp,having revoluble g'rippingjaws adapted to grip and hold a round articlefor rotating it, at the same time allowing the article gripped to havean endwise movement, in combination with a turntable having one or morestops which intercept said clamp, substantially as described.

18. In a well-sinking apparatus, a removable vertically-adjustable clampfor rotating a round article, having its gripping-jaws revoluble topermit endwise movement of the article gripped, at the same timepermitting the article gripped to be turned and jumped, in combinationwith a turn-table having two or more upright posts, and rollers carriedby said clamp and running on said posts, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

19. In a well-sinking apparatus, a clamp for turning a round article,having revoluble gripping-jaws that grip the article clamped for turningit, at the same time permitting the article clamped to have an endwisemovement, in combination with one or more arms or levers for rotatingsaid clamp, aturn-table having two or more upright posts, and rollerscarried by said clamp and turning on said posts, substantially asdescribed.

20. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table havingone or more stops and upright bars, with an adjustable clamp havingrevoluble gripping-jaws for turning a round article and permittingendwise movement of the article gripped and turned, andantifriction-rollers carried by said clamp and engaging said bars,substantially as described.

21. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turn-table havinga central passage, deadening-blocks carried thereby around said passage,and a vertically-movable clamp carried by said turn-table and providedwith revoluble gripping-jaws for grippinga round article and permittingendwise movement thereof, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

22. In a well-sin king apparatus for gripping round articles forrotating them, meanwhile permitting longitudinal movement thereof, thecombination of agripping device arranged to permit independent endwisemovement of the article gripped, and an antifriction-roller having anextended, a, non-biting periphery arranged'adjacent to said grippingdevice and bearing against the article gripped, substantially asdescribed.

23. Ina well-sinking apparatus for gripping round articles for rotatingthem, meanwhile permitting longitudinal movement thereof, thecombination of circular rotary grippingjaws for turning a round article,of antifriction-rollers having an extended, c'. 0., nonbiting peripheryarranged adjacent to said circular gripping-jaws and bearing against thearticle gripped, to reduce the friction of the endwise movement of saidarticle, substantially as described.

IOC

24. In a well-sinking apparatus for gripping round articles for rotatingthem, meanwhile permitting longitudinal movement thereof, thecombination of rotary disks, the edges of which are adapted to engagethe article to be gripped and form one side of the jaw, anantifriction-roller having an extended, 7;. e. nonbiting peripheryarranged adjacent to said disks and forming the other side of the jaw,and a frame supporting said disks and roller, substantially asdescribed.

25. In a well-sinking apparatus for gripping round articles for rotatingthem, meanwhile permitting longitudinal movement thereof, thecombination of a plurality of grippingjaws, each of said jaws consistingof one or more rotary disks the edges of which are adapted to engage thearticle to be gripped and form one side of the jaw, anantifriction-roller having an extended, 2'. c. non-biting peripheryarranged adjacent to said disks and forming the other side of the jaw,and means for forcing said jaws together upon the article gripped,substantially as described.

26. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a gripping devicearranged to permit independent endwise movement of the article gripped,a plurality of antifriction-rollers in different horizontal planesarranged adjacent to said gripping devices and bearing against thearticle gripped, substantially as described.

27. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of rotary disks theedges of which are adapted to engage the article to be gripped and formone side of the jaw, a plurality of antifriction-rollers arranged indifferent horizontal planes adjacent to said disks and forming the otherside of the jaw, and a frame supporting said disks and rollers,substantially as described.

28. In a well-sinking apparatus,a verticallyadjustable clamp, connectedto a drill-rod having a revoluble serrated-faced cone that can be forcedagainst a pipe to turn it, in combination with one or more antifrictionrollers placed in the clamp so that the rollers and cone will rest onthe pipe gripped at three or more points, for holding the clamp fromturning over, substantially as described.

29. In a well-drillingmachine, the combination of a rotary plate, andgripping means secured thereon and capable of movement up and down withrespect to the plate, means upon the plate for holding said grippingmeans and permitting the up-and-down movement thereof withoutinterfering with the rotation of the plate, the said gripping means alsopermitting of the drill-tube moving longitudinally, substantially asdescribed.

30. In a well-drilling machine, the combination of a rotary table, pinsor stakes carried by said table, gripping means having a movableengagement with said pins, so that the gripping device may be raised orlowered without interfering with the rotation of the table, and gripperscarried by the. gripping means for turning a well-tube and yetpermitting of its endwise movement, substantially as described.

MATTHEW T. CHAPMAN. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, JOHN L. JACKSON.

